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Overview
Colleague volunteering is a key part of the execution and scale of our strategic ambition to be an active force for good in everything we do. Through this pillar, colleagues across our markets are empowered to make a difference in the communities in which we operate by volunteering for causes aligned to their passions and interests. This is enabled through practical mechanisms such as volunteering grants, matched funding and the facilitation of responsible and responsive citizenry while leveraging the bank's full ecosystem across its business units and functions. In 2024, this pillar was aligned with Absa’s Corporate Citizenship strategy of Financial Inclusion Through Entrepreneurship, by introducing entrepreneurial volunteering to leverage colleague’s broad expertise and skills.
Strategic Pillars
Embedding entrepreneurial volunteering
Absa's Colleague Volunteering strategy centres on embedding entrepreneurial volunteering to empower employees to actively contribute to Corporate Citizenship-funded programmes. By encouraging business units and functions to lead their own initiatives, Absa provides colleagues with opportunities to apply their skills in supporting local schools, Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and charitable projects. This approach not only drives financial inclusion through entrepreneurship but also fosters purpose and leadership while enabling employees to make a lasting impact in their communities.
Driving skills-based volunteering
We empower colleagues to use their professional skills to make a meaningful difference in our communities through skills-based volunteering, with a focus on initiatives like financial literacy that advance financial inclusion. By leveraging expertise across our Business Units and functions, we maximise the impact of our efforts in delivering high-value support that creates lasting positive change for young people and communities.
Pan-African volunteering delivery
Our Pan-African volunteering delivery emphasises a unified, impactful approach to volunteering across our African Regional Operations (ARO). By aligning initiatives with both local needs and Group objectives, Absa fosters a cohesive culture of social impact, reflecting its presence and influence across the continent. Through best-practice models and Group-wide interventions during key days of importance, Absa empowers colleagues to actively engage in meaningful volunteering activities, demonstrating the strength of Pan-African unity in driving positive change.
Initiatives
Food packaging Mandela Day
In July 2024, Absa colleagues across South Africa came together to make a tangible impact through a food-packing initiative in support of Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD) and beneficiaries, in partnership with Rise Against Hunger.
Footprints shoe drive
In July 2024, Absa colleagues united to support the Footprints school shoe initiative, driven by a shared desire to make a tangible difference in young learners’ lives.
Jozi My Jozi
On 18 July 2024, 100 Absa colleagues came together to participate in the Jozi My Jozi clean-up campaign – a powerful expression of our commitment to being a force for good.
Youth Month Dialogue
As part of Absa's Colleague Volunteering initiatives, the Youth Month Dialogue targeted 35 learners who are beneficiaries of our partnership with Junior Achievement South Africa. The initiative exemplifies our commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and role-modelling.
Stories from our colleagues
